Folding animal crate



3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

W. E. PEI'TY.

FOLDING ANIMAL CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, E920.

o v" y La l/ W. E. PETTY.

FOLDING ANIMAL CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 2s, 1920.

.1,406 ,278. Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

W. E. PETTY.

FOLDING ANIMAL CRATE. APPLxcATmN FILED calze, 1920.

Patented m14, 1922.

@NEE SEATES PTENT Fii.

WLLIAM. E. PETTY, 0F STCRM LAKE, IOWA. ASSIGNOR TO JENS :PETER OLRISTENSEN,

OF NEWELL, IOWA.

FOLDING .ANIMAL CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

Application le. October 28, 1920. Serial No. 420,115.

T0 alli/)71cm may coa-cern Be it known that llTiLLiAME. Pn'rrr, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident oi Storm Lake, Buena Vista County, Iowa, have invented a new and useful Folding nimal Crate, ot which the following is a speciiication.

rllhe object of this invention is to provide an improved construction tor parts and elements ot a crate adapted to contain a hog, or other animal of similar size, which crate is adapted to be collapsed or folded .flat for storage or transportation.

il. further object of this invention is to provide improved means for containing endgate rods in an assembly Ot parts when the crate is in folded condition.

A. .further object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for hinges employed in a collapsible crate.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 a side elevation of the improved crate assembled for use. Figure 3 is a cross-section on the indicated line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4- is an end elevation of the same, Figure 5 is a face view and Figure 6 an end elevation of the crate in 'folded or collapsed condition prepared for transportation or storage. Figure 7 is a detail section, on an enlarged scale, on the indicating -T of Figure 2. lFigure S is a detail cross section, on an enlarged scale, of the lower portion yofI the crate, on the indicated line 8-8 otFioure 2 sort-ions beino` broken away to economize space. Figure 9 is a de#V tail section, on an enlarged scale, on the indicated line 9--9 of Figure 1.

ln the construction of the device as shown the numeral 10 designates aldoor, which is provided with spaced cleats or cross-bars 11, 12 on its lower `face. Notches 13, 1d are iliormed in one side marginfof the door 10 and adjacent end portionsof the cleats 11, 12 extend across said notches and terminate flush with Notches 15, 16 are formed in the opposite margin of the floorY 10 and adjacent end portions o1 the cleats 11, 12 extend across said notches and terminate iush with said margin of the floor, said endportions ot said marginv of the floor.l

the cleats being beveled as shown in detail in Figure 8 and indicated by 11. rEhe ioor 1Q and cleats 11, 12 constitute the bottom of the crate. fr side member, hereinafter referred to as the 'front member, is constructed with slats 17, 18, 19 arranged parallel and spaced apart and connected bv cross-bars or 'cleats 2O,y 21 on their inner laces, which cleats also are spaced'apart identical with the spacing` ot the cleats 11, 12. Lower end'portions of the cleats 20, 21 are adapted to enter the notches 15, 16 in the licor 10 and abut upper side faces of and overlay the bevels 11 of adjacent end portions ot the cleats 11, 12; the slat 19 beingadapted to contact with 'and en` tend laterally across the adjacent side marf gin of the floor andr form a box-angle therewith. Adjacent end portions of the cleats 11-20 and. 12-21 are hinged together as follows: Each hinging device includes a stirrup 22embracing,- one end portion of a cleat 11 or 12, extending` within a notch 15 or 16, crossing the ends of the bevels 11 and sliohtly overlapping` and embracing the lower end portion of a cleat 2O or 21, and counterpart straps 211, 2li mounted on opposite marginal faces of the cleat 2O or 21, olset between their ends so that the lower ends thereof may overlap corners of the stirrup22, and a hinge-pin 26 ei;- tending through and pivotally connectingthe overlapping ends ot said straps and the corners of said stirrup. The stirrups 22 are secured to the cleats 11, 12 by screws 23 and the straps 2d are secured to the cleats 20,- 21 bybolts The oli'set of each strap 24e is shown at 27 and is substantially equal to the thickness of the stirrup. Readingk Figures 6 and S' on each other, it will be observed that the shape and arrangement of the stirrups and straps, and thel overlapping of the cleats11--20 and 12-21 relativek to each other and to the floor 10 and notches 15, 16 therein, permits movement of the 'front member relative to the bottom member inone direction only to place said members in substantially the same plane (Fig. 6) when the crate is folded or collapsed and in a reverse direction to place said members in right-angled (but not acute-angled) relation (Figl 8) when the crate is set up for use (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and d.) In the latter position, the door 10 braces against the cleats 20, 21 and lends stability to the frame. U-shaped metal loops 28, 29 are mounted in embracing relation on, and the closed central portions thereof extend beyond` the upper ends of the cleats 20, 21, and said loops are secured to the sides of the cleats by screws 30. Another side member, hereinafter referred to as the back member, is constructed with slats 31, 32, 33 arranged parallel and spaced apart, and connected by cleats or cross-bars 34, 35 on their inner faces, which cleats also are spaced apart ident-ical with kthe spacing of the cleats 11, 12, 2O and 21. Lower end portions of the cleats 34, 35 are adapted to enter the notches 15, 16 in the licor 1() and abut the upper faces of end portions of the cleats 11, 12; the slat 33 being adapted to contact with and extend laterally across the adjacent side margin of the floor and form a box-angle therewith. Adjacent end portions of the cleats 11-34 and 12-35 are hinged together as follows: Each hinging device includes a stirrup 36 embracing one end portion of a cleat 11 or 12, extending through a notch 13 or 14 and overlapping` and embracing` the lower end portion of a cleat 34 or 35, and a hingepin 37 extending through and pivotally connecting the overlapping portions of the stirrup and the cleat 34 or 35. The stirrups 36 are secured to the cleats 11, 12 by screws 38 and edges of the cleats 34, 35 are cut away as indicated by bevels 35. The axis of each hinge-pin 37 is spaced `from the upper surface of the cleat 11 or 12 such distance as will permit the back member to be moved, to articulate on said axis, in one direction. Reading Figures 6 and 8 on each other, it will be observed that the shape and arrangement of the stir-rups and cleats 34, 35, and the operlapping of the cleats 11-34 and 12-35 relative to each other and to the floor 10 and notches 13, 14 therein, permits movement of the bottom member relative to the back member in one direction to place said members in parallel planes (Fig. 6) when the crate is folded or collapsed and in a reverse direction to place said members in right-angled (but not obtuse-angled) relation (Fig. 8) when the crate is set up for use (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4). In the latter position the iloor 10 braces against the cleats 34, 35 and lends stability to the frame. A cover member is constructed with slats 38, 39 arranged parallel and spaced apart and also spaced from the side members and of materially less length than the floor 10 and slats of the front and back members, and cleats 40, 41 on their inner faces, which cleats are of a length substantially corresponding with the width of the floor and entend, at times, across the upper ends of the cleats 20, 21 and 34, 35. The cleats 40, 41 are hinged at one end each to the upper endsof the cleats 34, 35

as follows: Each hinging device includes a strap 42 secured to the outer face of and projecting upwardly from a cleat 34 or 35 by screws 43, a strap 44 secured to a cleat 40 or 41 by screws 45, and a hinge-pin 41S connecting said straps pivotally. Each strap 42 is of greater wir th than the strap 44 and `is formed with a notch in its upper end sufficiently wide to receive the latter strap; ears 47, 48 on opposite sides of each notch being rolled inwardly around the pin 4G and straddling the adjacent end portion of the other strap which is rolled inwardly around said pin within said notch. The adjacent edge of the cleat 40 or 41 is notched to receive the rolled ears and rolled end of the strap 44. The straps 42, 44 may be laid on the outer surfaces of the cleats and the slats 31 and 39 be extended across them with or without inortising the slats to receive the straps, or, the straps may be inlaid or mortised in the cleats, but I make no claim to either method of placing the straps. Reading Figs. 6 and 9 on each other, it will be observed that the straps 42.

project beyond the end of the cleats 34, 35 a distance substantially equal to the thiol:- ness of the top cleats 40, 41 and that the shape and arrangement of the cleats and straps 42, 44, andthe overlapping of the cleats on each other, permits movement of the cover memberrelative to the back member in one direction to place said members substantially in the same plane (Fig. 6) when the crate is folded or collapsed, and in a reverse direction to place said members in rightangled (but not acute-angled) relation (Fig. 9) when the crate is set up for use (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4). In the latter position, the contact betweenk the cleats 34, 35 and 40, 41 lends stability to the frame. The end portions of the cleats 40, 41 opposite to the hinged ends thereof are adapted to extend through the loops 28, 29 to an extent permitted by contact of saidv loops with one side margin of the slat 38, and latches 47', 48', of leaf-spring type, are mounted in grooves 49 formed in the cleats beneath the central portions of said loops. The latches are formed with notches 50 in their upper faces adapted to receive and engage the central portions of the loops 28, 29` and prevent accidental withdrawal of the cleats 40, 41 from said loops. The slat 38 also is formed with transverse slots 51 opening through its lower face and adapted to receive the upper portion of each latch 47', 48', at times and permit a range of movement thereof. The detachable connection of the cover member and front member, through the interengagement of the cleats, loops and latches, lends stability to the frame and prevents accidental movement of any member relative to another. Pairs of cleats 52`52, 53--53, 54-54 and 55-55 are fixed crate.

to and extend acrossthe inner faces of end portions of the front and back members of the crate, being'ixed to the slats of said members, and the units of each pair are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of any slat employed. End-gates are employed to close the ends of the crate and each is constructed with slats 56, 57, 57 and 58 arranged parallel and spaced apart, and cleats 59, 60 extending across the inner faces of and connecting said slats, said cleats being arranged parallel and spaced apart. The end-gates are mounted on and perpendicular to end portions of the licor 10, the slatsv of the end-gatos abutting inner faces ofthe slats of the front and back members within the pairs of cleatsV 52, 53, 54, 55,but do not actually contact with said' side slats, which cleats preventmovement of the end-gates longitudinally of the side slats. Metal wear-plates 61 are mounted on the side slats of the crate and are overlaid at their margins by the cleats 53, 54, 55, and said plates take the wear and strain of engagement with ends of the slats of the end-gates and bridge the spaces between the side-slats, thus providing bottoms for slide bearings for the end-gates. The slats 57, 57 of the end-gates are of less width than the other slats and are spaced apart less distance than the other slats, thus forming central grooves in the end-gates adapted to receive and support tie-rods as hereinafter explained. Tie-rods or eye-bolts 62, 63 are mounted loosely in registering apertures in the side-slats 18 and 32, the outermost cleats 52-55 and 53-54 and extend across the ends of the crate outside of the end-gates. llashers or wearplates Get, 65 may be mounted on the sideslats 18, surrounding the apertures therein to take the wear and strain of the eyes of the tie-rods, and nuts 66, 67 may be mounted on the side-Slat 32, surrounding the apertures therein, the tie-rods being screwed into said nuts to connect and bind together the front and back members of the crate. The tie-rods 62 63 may be mounted and removed manually in a common and well-- known manner, or, may be loosened slightly to permit either end-gate to be removed or placed without folding or collapsing the The cleats 20, 21 and 40, 41 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater the length of either tie-rod 62, 63 and a strip, perferably of wood, 68 is mounted on the inner face and flush with the upper margin of the Slat 17 between said cleats 20, 21. During the operation of folding or collapsing the crate, the tie-rods and endgates are removed, the tie-rods are laid in the grooves between the slats 57, 57 of the endgates and the end-gates are placed, parallel with each other within the'space bounded by the cleats 20, 21, the strip 68 and may be employed to connect the front and top members and the bottom and back members as desired temporarily. llllien the crate is folded or collapsed it occupies materially less cubic space than when it is set up and, hence, is adapted for convenient Cil and economical return transport, handling V and' storage, thus providing for repeated use of a. given cra-te with much saving in the cost of material and labor.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a folding crate having bottom, front, back and cover members', each provided with cleats, a hinge connection between the bottom and front members comprising stirrups embracing adjacent end portions of the cleats of said members and fixed to one of said cleats, and straps fixed to opposing cleats and overlapping and pivoted to said stirrups, selected edges of the stirrup-carrying cleats being beveled.

2. In a folding crate having bottom, front, back and cover members, each provided with cleats, a hinge connection between the bottom and front members comprising stirrnps embracing and fixed to the bottom cleats, selected edges of the bottom cleats between the sides of the stirrnps being beveled, the adjacent ends of the front cleats being adapted to abut a face of the bottom cleats within the stirrups and overlie the beveled edoes, and straps on the front cleats overlapping and pivoted to the stirrups.

3. ln a folding crate having bottom, front, back and cover members, each provided with cleats, a hinge connection between the bottom and back members comprising stirrups embracing and fixed to the bottom Y cleats and overlapping the'back cleats, and means for pivoting said stirrups to the back cleats.

1. In a folding crate having bottom, front, back and cover members, each provided with cleats, a hinge connection between the bottom and back members comprising stirrups embracing and iixed to the bottom cleats and overlapping the back cleats, selected edges of the back cleats being beveled within the stirrups, and means for pivoting the back cleats to the stirrups.

5. In a folding crate having bottom, front, back and cover members, each provided with cleats, a hinge connection between the bottom and baclrnnembers comprising stirrups embracing and tired to the bottom cleats and overlapping the back cleats, the back cleats being adapted to abut the adjacent faces oit'` the bottom cleats -within the stirrnps, selected edges oi? the back cleats being beveled within the stirrnps, and means for pivoting the back cleats to the stirrnps.

6. In a folding crate having bottom, i'ront, back and cover members, each provided with cleats, a hinge connection between the back and cover members comprising straps on the back cleats formed with notches, straps on the cover cleats adapted to enter said notches, a hinge-pin, ears olf the back straps and ends of the cover straps being bent inwardly around said pin, selected edges olf the cover cleats being notched to receive the bent portions.

7. In a folding crate having back and cover members, each provided with cleats, end portions of the back cleats being adapted to abut selected faces of the cover cleats, a

hinge connection between the contacting end portions of the cleats comprising Anotched straps on one pair of cleats, straps onthe other pair of cleats adapted to enter the notches, anda hinge-pin, ears or" the first straps and an end portion of each oi Vthe other straps being bent inwardly around said pin, selected edges of selected cleats being notched to receive said bent portions.

8. In a folding crate having opposing sets of cleats, one set of cleats being adapted to abut faces of the other cleats, a hinge connection comprising straps iixed to the abutting cleats and extending 'freely across the other cleats, straps fixed to the other or abntted cleats, and a hinge-pin pivotally connecting each strap to another.

Signed at Des Moines, in the county of Poll; and State ot Iowa, this S day of Septcmber, 1920.

WILLIAM E. PETTY. 

